月(がつ)

がつ

suffix

-month (suffix naming calendar months)

1. month (suffix forming the names of calendar months)

Attached to the numbers one through twelve to name the months of the year: 一月(いちがつ) (January), 二月(にがつ) (February), and so on. It names a month of the calendar, not a length of time.

四月(しがつ)に入学(にゅうがく)する。

I start school in April.

誕生日(たんじょうび)は十二月(じゅうにがつ)です。

My birthday is in December.

八月(はちがつ)は暑(あつ)いので、旅行(りょこう)は九月(くがつ)にしよう。

August is hot, so let's make the trip in September.

会社(かいしゃ)の決算(けっさん)は三月(さんがつ)で、新(あたら)しい年度(ねんど)は四月(しがつ)から始(はじ)まる。

The company closes its books in March, and the new fiscal year begins in April.

Only the reading がつ is used for month names; the same kanji read 月(つき) is the independent noun for "moon" or "month."

Counting patterns

四月(しがつ): April — し, never よん
七月(しちがつ): July — しち, never なな
九月(くがつ): September — く, never きゅう

Similar words

か月(げつ): months (duration) — 三(さん)か月(げつ) is "three months long," while 三月(さんがつ) is "March"
月(つき): moon; month — the independent noun

Question word: 何月(なんがつ) (what month).

月(がつ)

Counting patterns

Similar words

Related Words